Race Day at 70.3 Utah: Timeline, Mistakes to Avoid, and a Plan B

An Honest Disclaimer

This is the inaugural edition: official schedules, cutoff times, shuttles, and check-in procedures haven't been published yet. This timeline is a framework built on known facts — two separate venues, a swim at altitude, extreme heat — to be filled in with the athlete guide when it drops. Treat it as a method, not a schedule.

The Days Before

Two to three days out. Arrive early if you're coming from sea level: the swim and the first part of the bike are at altitude (Deer Creek, Heber Valley), and a few days of acclimation help your breathing and heart rate. Drive the canyon for recon: the US-189 descent is something you want to see before riding it at 30 mph on race day.

The day before. Manage your drop-offs: with T1 at Deer Creek State Park and T2 at Scera Park in Orem, it's likely (but not confirmed) that bike and gear bags will need to be dropped at different venues. Don't leave this until the last hours of the afternoon. If possible, test the water: 72°F on average, wetsuit likely, but the official wetsuit call will only come with race-morning measurement. Bring your wetsuit regardless.

Race Morning

• Wake up early — earlier than usual. You need to get to Deer Creek for the start: travel time through or around the canyon needs a buffer, and any mandatory shuttles are still unknown.
• Breakfast and fluids from the moment you wake up. August lows hover around 72°F: the day starts warm and will finish above 97°F. Race hydration starts at breakfast, not in T1.
• Short, controlled swim warm-up. At altitude your heart rate climbs faster: no need to overdo it, just get activated.

The Three Mistakes This Race Punishes

1. Going out hot on the swim. The reservoir sits at altitude: your breathing gets short, especially in the first 400 m. Go out all-out and you'll be in oxygen debt after two buoys. One clockwise loop in the Deer Creek Reservoir: find your rhythm early and hold it.

2. Hammering the canyon descent. The bike course is billed as 'net downhill' but also 'hilly': speed on the descent is free, extra watts are not. Every watt wasted in the canyon gets repaid with interest on a midday run. Set a power cap on the descent, stay aero, arrive in T2 with fresh legs.

3. Ignoring the heat in the first half of the run. The out-and-back on the Provo River Parkway is 'rolling' and the heat builds as the hours pass. The classic mistake is running the out leg at dream pace and walking the way back. Ice and water at every aid station starting from the first one, even when you feel good — especially when you feel good.

Plan B, Written in Advance

Define your fallback thresholds now, not mid-race:

• Swim: if the altitude leaves you gasping, drop to your survival pace and accept an extra 2-3 minutes. The race isn't won there.
• Bike: if it's hotter than expected or the course turns out tougher than anticipated (the official elevation profile isn't out yet), cut your power target by 5% and increase fluids.
• Run: set a 'heat mode' pace and an emergency protocol — walk the aid stations, ice everywhere, and stop if serious signs of heat stress appear. Finishing the inaugural edition is the goal; the fast time can come in future editions with historical data.

After the Finish Line

Finish at Scera Park, Orem. Remember your swim gear started the day at Deer Creek: find out in advance where and when to collect it. Then shade, fluids, and the satisfaction of finishing a race nobody had ever raced before.